Porsche Panamera

Porsche Panamera

The Panamera has finally been unveiled as Porsche issued official details and photographs of its newest model a couple of days after a premature leakage gave us our first taste of the German firm’s sport sedan. The new four-seater Porsche Panamera gran turismo will be making its world debut at the forthcoming Geneva Motorshow in March 2009, and the first models will hit the company’s dealerships worldwide from late summer next year with an annual sales target of 20,000 units.

Conceived and designed as a four-door grand touring sports car, Porsche claims that the Panamera combines DNA from “the looks of a coupe, the unique interpretation of the classical saloon body, and the benefits of a versatile interior for an unmistakable appearance.” We’ll have to wait to see the vehicle up close for our final report, but we gather that the Panamera’s design will most probably ignite the same controversy as the German firm’s first-ever SUV, the Cayenne.Porsche has yet to reveal any photographs of the vehicle’s interior, but according to the company, the cabin has been designed to cover “the needs and wishes of the driver” as well as offering occupants a “pilot sensation” from all four ergonomic seats. Not exactly very “Porschy”, but the Panamera is said to have a large luggage compartment capable of fitting all four passenger’s baggage. Furthermore, the Panamera features folding rear seat backrests that enable the driver and passengers to adjust the luggage space individually to their personal requirements.

The fourth Porsche model series that is actually a five-door liftback and not a four-door sedan, measures 4970mm (195.7in) in length, 1931mm (76.0in) in width and 1418mm (55.8in) in height, or somewhere between a BMW 5- and 7-Series.

Without giving any specific details, Porsche said that it will offer the Panamera with six and eight cylinders engine that range in power from 300 to 500 HP. Some of those engines will combine turbocharger technology and Direct Fuel Injection allegedly making them both fuel-efficient and powerful all in one. In 2010, Porsche will also enhanced the Panamera’s range with the presentation of a hybrid version.

The flow of power to the wheels goes either through a manual six-speed gearbox or Porsche’s new seven-speed PDK double-clutch gearbox. As with the 911, in addition to the rear-wheel drive variants, the Panamera will also be available with the firm’s all-wheel drive system.

Further details on the engines, transmissions, performance, prices and equipment will be disclosed in the spring 2009.